About Jenny Filush
Jenny Filush completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Auburn University in 1995 and her master of Education in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University in 1997. In the Spring of 2008, Jenny completed her Thanatolgy degree from the University of Alabama- Thanatology, derived from Thanatos, is death and bereavement studies, which includes legal and ethical issues, gender differences, funeral procedures, organ donation, child/adolescent/adult grief as well as spiritual degrees of grief.
She is a Licensed professional Counselor in the state of Alabama and is currently the children's bereavement coordinator at Hospice of EAMC, having been employed in that Capacity since 2005. Jenny has worked with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of settings, including public/private schools (which also includes direct training for teachers and/or administrative staff), psychiatric hospitalization programs, and outpatient mental health clinics. She provides therapy to children, adolescents and adults and specializes in grief and bereavement, anger and behavior management therapies. She has presented at the National Children's Grief and Bereavement Conference as well as other workshops and seminars that focus on death and bereavement issues.
Jenny is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management, having once served as the Clinical Director of the East Alabama Critical Incident Stress Management Team, and has worked closely with police, fire, paramedic and other first responders dealing with crisis in the community.
Jenny has an eight year background working on the inpatient psychiatric facility at East Alabama Medical Center, providing direct patient care via individual, group, assessment and family therapies to child, adolescent, adult and geriatric populations. She was instrumental in developing and planning the children's psychiatric unit which opened in 1999.
Lastly, Jenny is the founder and director of Camp Good Grief, a day camp for children ages 5-17 that have experienced the loss of a loved one through death. Camp Good Grief is held annually in the city of Auburn and has already outreached to over 600 children.
Anticipatory Grief and Bereavement
Mrs. Filush is a certified Thanatologist and grief and bereavement specialist. Many aspects of the death process are often difficult and confusing but can be eased by speaking to and/or asking questions of a bereavement counselor. Establishing therapeutic rapport with a support system prior to the death can assist with the grief process that occurs after the death. Mrs. Filush advocates that families have open and honest communication and include all members of the family in experiencing anticipated death to help prevent complicated symptoms post death.
Grief and Bereavement / Post Death
Through her extensive training in all aspects of the death process- legal, ethical, sudden loss, anticipatory loss, childhood and adult responses, gender issues, death notification, organ donation, funeral procedures and disenfranchised grief- Jenny advocates that all individuals involved with the death (family, friends, Church community, teachers, classmates, etc.,)be allowed the opportunity to express their grief. Grief counseling is all about support and validating normal responses experienced after the death of a loved one.
Grief and Bereavement Assessment, Training
Not everyone needs grief counseling. Just because someone has experienced the death of a loved one does not necessarily mean that they will fall apart. Assessing the bereaved individuals needs is important in determining if grief counseling is needed, meaning some individuals may need only a few sessions with a counselor and/or an established support system. Mrs. Filush provides training in all aspects of grief, bereavement and the dying process to: schools, Church organizations, administrative staffs, community agencies, civic groups, etc.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
Jenny Filush is a certified CISM leader and has facilitated many groups amongst local first responders (police, fire, paramedic, ER staff) faced with a crisis situation. CISM was developed as a prevention techniques to help first responders "debrief" after experiencing a significant traumatic event. CISM techniques are also used in grief counseling to help prevent complicated grief symptoms when facing a sudden or unexpected loss.
Speaking Engagements
Mrs. Filush is a strong believer in advocating for the rights of children in the grief process. She feels strongly that educating the community about children and teen grief issues goes a long way in preventing complicated grief issues. Mrs. Filush gives presentations on a regular basis to many organizations including: schools, administrative staff, church and daycare groups, national grief and bereavement conferences and seminars as well as guest teaching child life and social work classes at Auburn University.
Treatment of Children and Adolescents
Mrs. Filush worked on an inpatient psychiatric facility at EAMC for eight years as the primary child counselor utilizing individual, group and family therapies. During this time she specialized in anger and behavior management, training families on behavior charting and reward versus consequences therapies. She has also worked extensively with abuse (physical, sexual and emotional)victims, often collaborating with DHR and Mental Health through their Family Options programs. Other areas of skill include: depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, self-esteem issues, gender identity, and gay, lesbian and bisexual issues.
